President Jacob Zuma's deadline to provide representations has been conveniently pushed back. Will Zuma ever face those hundreds of charges?

Are you surprised by the headline of this article? Are you really? National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) director Shaun Abrahams has extended the deadline for President Zuma to submit representations until the end of January.

NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mafaku confirmed the news to News24. He said that Zuma’s legal team had come forward and asked for an extension until February 19.

“He [Abrahams] refused and gave them [until] January 31. He said any further request for extensions won’t be entertained,” Mfaku said.

“He considered a number of issues including the fact that the prosecution team is still evaluating evidential material… the prosecution team will be able to advise him after evaluating evidential material.”

Zuma had been given until the 30th of November to make his representations. That date came after the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Zuma and the NPA’s decision to appeal a 2009 ruling calling the dropping of Zuma’s charges irrational.

Interestingly enough, the NPA refused to confirm on the 30th of November whether Zuma had submitted representations after all. Now, 11 days into December, we get our answer.

Zuma and Abrahams: Besties for life?

Abrahams granting Zuma an extension comes less than a week after a High Court judge ruled that Abrahams must vacate his position as the head of the NPA. The ruling found that there were issues with the removal of the previous NPA chief, Mxolisi Nxasana.

Abrahams was told to leave and the judge said that Zuma could not appoint a new NPA head due to his impending charges. Instead, the judge ruled that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa name a new head in 60 days.

Within minutes, Zuma and his legal team appealed, therefore keeping Abrahams in his job.

On Monday, Abrahams returned the favour as he kept the charges away from Zuma by granting this extension.

Either way, the NPA is a mess and the Zuma/Abrahams partnership continues.